Trough hanger



March 27, 1956 w. A. BERTRAM TROUGH HANGER Filed Feb. 24, 1953 INVENTOR.

United States Patent TROUGH HANGER William A. Bertram, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 24, 1953, Serial No. 338,236

1 Claim. (Cl. 248-481) This invention relates to a hanger for use in attaching a trough or the like to a support such as a roof or wall.

Various hangers of this type have heretofore been proposed which, because of their design, are diificult and awkward to attach to the support or apply to the trough, are expensive to produce, or are ineffective in supporting a trough.

Thus it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a hanger which overcomes the above-indicated shortcomings of prior hangers.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hanger which is formed of relatively thin gauge bendable sheet material, yet by reason of its novel deformed shape, the hanger is capable of effectively supporting heavy loads.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a hanger which, by reason of its novel shape, is capable of being readily packed with numerous other like hangers into a small compact shipping carton or box.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a hanger which may be efiectively locked in embracing relation with respect to the trough with but a minimum amount of manual effort.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a hanger having interlocking parts, which, when in interlocking relation, assume a fixed position with respect to one another.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention a trough hanger is provided comprising an elongated section for engaging a support, and a trough-embracing section connected thereto. The latter section includes an elongated slotted first segment connected at one end to the support-engaging section and having portions of the longitudinal sides of said first segment angularly offset to form a pair of spaced flanges, a trough-subtendiug second segment connected to said first segment, and an elongated third segment connected to said second segment and having a bendable finger projecting transversely therefrom for insertion through a slot in said first segment to efiect interlocking of said first and third segments. Portions of the third segment are adapted to be nested between the flanges of said first segment, when said first and third segments are in interlocking relation.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should now be made to the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the improved hanger shown mounted on a roof and embracing a trough;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the improved hanger, alone, showing the trough-embracing section thereof in interlocking relation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the improved hanger shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the improved hanger taken along line 44 of Fig. 3;

2,739,775 Patented Mar. 27, 1956 Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the interlocking segments of the improved hanger;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the improved hanger showing the trough-embracing section thereof in unlocked relation;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of improved hanger; and

Fig. 8 is similar to Fig. 5 but showing one of the interlocking segments of a modified form of an improved hanger.

Referring now to the drawings, a hanger 10 is shown for use in attaching or mounting a trough 11 or the like to a support 12, which, in this instance, is a sloping roof. The hanger 10 is of integral construction and is formed of relatively thin gauge metal strip material. The hanger 10, as seen more clearly in Fig. 2, comprises a roof attaching section 13 and a trough-embracing section 14 integrally connected thereto. Section 13 is elongated and extends angularly from section 14 and is provided with a plurality of apertures 15 at the distal end portion thereof. The apertured end portion of section 13 is secured by nails or screws 16 directly to the support 12. In the roof construction shown in Fig. 1, section 13 is shown disposed between the roof shingles l7 and the roof boards 18. The elongated section 13 may be readily bent to conform to the contour of the support to which it is attached. It is to be understood, of course, that while the hanger is shown attached to a roof, it is not to be limited thereto but may be readily attached to other suitable supports such as a vertically disposed wall.

The trough-embracing section 14 of the hanger 10 is adapted to completely surround the trough 11 in a manner as shown in Fig. 1. Section 14 includes a first segment 20 which is integrally connected to one end of support-engaging section 13, a trough-subtending segment 21 integrally connected to segment 20, and a third segment 22 integrally connected to segment 21 and adapted to assume an interlocking relation with first segment 20. First segment 20, as seen more clearly in Figs. 2 and 6, has the longitudinal sides thereof offset to form spaced substantially parallel depending flanges 23a and 23b. The portion of segment 20 disposed between flanges 23a and 23b is provided with a longitudinally extending upwardly protruding rib 24. The rib 24 and the flanges 23a and 23b are adapted to give added strength and stilfness to segment 20 notwithstanding the fact that the hanger is formed of relatively thin gauge bendable sheet material. An elongated relatively narrow slot 25 is formed in the ribbed center portion 24 of segment 20 and its function will be explained more fully hereinafter. The slot 25 is disposed in substantially parallel relation with respect to the flanges 23a and 23b.

The trough-subtending segment 21, in this instance, is shown to be arcuate in shape so as to correspond to the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the trough 11. The shape of trough-subtending segment 21, however, is not to be considered limited to that shown, but may be varied depending upon the particular shape of the trough or gutter to which it is applied. Segments 20 and 21 of section 14 are interconnected by a loop portion 26 which is shaped so as to accommodate the bead 27 formed on the outwardly disposed edge of the trough 11. The other end of segment 21 is integrally connected to third segment 22 by a crimped portion 28 which is of a shape to accommodate the inwardly disposed edge 30 of the trough 11.

Elongated third segment 22 likewise has the longitudinal sides thereof, as seen more clearly in Fig. 5, offset to form spaced substantially parallel depending flanges 31a and 31b. The portion of segment 22 disposed between flanges 31a and 31b is provided with a longitudinally extending upwardly protruding rib 32 of substantially the same shape as the rib 24 formed in first segment 20. Adjacent the distal end of segment 22 is a struckout transversely extending finger 33. The finger 33 is adapted to be inserted through the elongated slot 25 formed in first segment 20, when the two segments 29 and 22 are in interlocking relation. It will be noted in Pig. 5 that finger 33 is disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the depending flanges 31a and 31b, thus the load bearing force applied to finger 33 is in a direction normal to the edge 34 thereof thereby materially increasing the amount of force that can be withstood by finger 33 without breakage. The edge 34 of the finger 33 is provided with a notch 34a which engages one end of the slot 25 through which the finger 33 is inserted when the segments and 22 are in interlocking relation. The notch 34a prevents the finger 33 becoming disengaged from slot except when segments 20 and 22 are moved toward each other until the finger 33 is centered in the slot 25 whereupon segment 22 may be moved downwardly relative to segment 20. The spacing between depending fianges 31a and 31b and the size of the rib 32 of segment 22 is such that when the segments 20 and 22 are in interlocking relation, segment 22 will readily nest between the depending flanges 23a and 23b and beneath rib 24 of segment 29 in a manner as seen more clearly in Fig. 4. By reason of this nested relation, the segments 20 and 22 cannot move laterally or twist relative to one another once they are in interlocking relation with respect to one another. The flanges 31a and 31b and rib 32 of segment 22 likewise give added strength and stiffness to the segment as in the case of segment 20.

After the segments 20 and 22 have been brought into interlocking engagement with respect to one another, the protruding end of finger 33 is bent over in a manner as shown in Fig. 4- so as to engage an exposed portion of the rib 24 formed in segment 20. Thus, when the finger 33 is bent in such a manner, the segment 22 cannot move downwardly relative to segment 20.

The hanger 10, when in an unlocked or unfolded position, as seen in Fig. 6, may be readily nested with other hangers of like construction to form a small compact shipping package. Thus a large number of hangers may be packed in relatively small cartons or units for shipping or handling.

A modified segment 34 is shown in Fig. 7 which corresponds to segment 20 heretofore described. Segment 34 is provided with an elongated centrally disposed rib 35, similar to rib 24, heretofore mentioned. An elongated slot 36 is formed in rib 35 and is spaced a considerable distance from the roof-attaching section 13. Slot 36 is adapted to receive the struckout finger 37 formed on modified segment 38. This latter segment 38 corresponds to third segment 22 heretofore described. Segment 38 is provided with an elongated rib 40, which, when segments 34 and 38 are brought into interlocking relation, nests with the underside of rib 35 formed in segment 34. Struckout finger 37 is formed at the free end of segment 38. By reason of the fact that the slot 36 is spaced a considerable distance from section 13, a substantial portion of the rib 40 of segment 38, disposed behind finger 37, as seen in Fig. 8, nests in the rib 35 of segment 34. The ribs 35 and 40 in both segments are relatively high, thus when the segments are in nesting relation, rib 40 will prevent relative twisting of the segments. Because of this rib height, depending side flanges have been omitted. They may, however, be formed, during the stamping operation, if so desired, wherein additional stifiening of the segments is required.

Thus it will be seen that an improved hanger has been provided which is simple 'in construction, eflcctive in operation, and may be readily applied to a trough and mounted on a suitable support. Furthermore, the hanger may be readily shaped in a single stamping and forming operation thereby expediting production and reducing cost of manufacture.

While a particular embodiment'of this invention is shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the 'nvention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

A device formed of relatively thin-gauge stifi material for use in hanging a trough or the like from a support, comprising an elongated support-engaging section aflixable to such a support and a trough-embracing section in tegrally connected thereto and extending angularly therefrom; said trough-embracing section including an elongated first segment integrally connected at one end to said support-engaging section, said first segment being provided with an elongated centrally disposed embossment extending longitudinally thereof for substantially the entire length of said first segment and an elongated longitudinally extending slot formed in the crest portion of said embossment adjacent the end portion of said first segment integrally connected to said supporbengaging section, said first segment being further provided with a pair of relatively spaced, substantially parallel side flanges extending from said first segment in a direction opposite from that of said embossrnent, an elongated trough-subtending second segment integrally connected to the opposite end portion of said first segment, and an elongated third segment integrally connected at one end to said second segment, said third segment being provided with an elongated centrally disposed embossment extending longitudinally thereof for substantially the entire length of said third segment and being nestable within the embossment of said first segment, when said troughembracing section is in assembled relation with a trough, said third segment being further provided with a struckout finger formed adjacent the other end of said third segment and extending through said slot, the width of said finger being substantially the same as the length of said slot, the portion of said finger projecting from said slot being bent to overlie a portion of the embossment of said first segment and eifect interlocking of said first and third segments, said third segment being snugly disposed intermediate said side flanges when said first and third segments are in interlocking engagement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 370,073 Lumm Sept. 20, 1887 548,483 Vogel Oct. 22, 1895 976,470 Larsen Nov. 22, 1910 1,003,258 Harris Sept. 12, 1911 1,160,124 Andreas Nov. 16, 1915 1,392,966 Rachlin Oct. 11, 1921 1,997,663 Usinger Apr. 16, 1935 2,065,091 Petersen Dec. 22, 1936 2,419,364 Montgomery et a1. Apr. 22, 1947 

